Snap-switch movement



- 1,684,257 R. BOELTER ET AL SNAP- SWITCH MOVEMENT Sept. 11, 1928.

Filed June 19, 1925 Ticgl.

Inventor's: Richard Boeltev', Ernst Bartz, by

Their Attorney.

Patented Sept. 11, 192.8.

barren stares RICHARD BOELTER AND ERNST BARTZ, OF ERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A

SNAP-SVVITOE1 Application filed June 19, 1925, Serial No.

The present invention relates to electric switches, and more especially to rotary snap switches of the double action type; in which the rotatable pole piece is actuatable in either direction.

The object of our invention is the provision of improved actuating mechanism for double acting rotary snap switches, which shall be composed of few and simple parts of sturdy construction and of low cost of manufacture.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the improved switch actuating mechanism and enclosing shell; 2 is a top plan view of the actuating mechanism, and Fig. 3 is an underside plan view of the mechanism and shell.

The switch shaft 1 is of usual co struction with square section. and adapted to receive upon its lower portion the customary movable pole piece or pieces (not shown) and its top end is providedwith an axial bore 2 for swiveled engagement with the pintle 3 of a round actuating shaft 1 in alignment therewith and having top end 5 squared for the reception of the usual manipulating lever or thumb piece (not shown).

The enclosing shell 6 is made bell-shaped and has fixed in its top wall a bearing bushing 7 for the actuating; shaft and near its lower end with spaced radial stop lugs 8. The bottom end of the shell 6 is closed by a cup-shaped diaphragm 9 with its flange 10 in frictional contact with the cylindrical inner wall 11 of the shell and in the space enclosed between the shell and diaphragm the snap actuating mechanism is housed.

The means for releasibly holding the switch shaft 1 in any one of the on and off positions of the movable pole piece carried thereby consists of a stop-disk 12 fixed thereon and provided with two oppositely disposed arc-shaped spring arms 13 and 14: bent slightly upward and adapted normally to engage at their free ends with opposite edges of the respective stop lugs 8. The stop disk 12 is fixed to the shaft between metal plates 15 and 16 driven upon the shaft and riveted together. The plate 16 has two spaced legs 1? and 18 bent at right angles from its periphery into parallelism with the shaft and passing through the slot 19 in l thdlw rarer Fries.

BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNORS TO GEN- NEW" YORK CORPOBATIGN.

38,362, and in Germany November 7, 1924.

the stop-disk .12 which separates the body thereof from its arcuate arms 13 and 14:...

A coiled spring 20 surrounds the switch shaft 1 above the plate 15 and its ends 21 Y and 22 are bent radially outward and normally engage the adjacent edges of the spaced 17 and 18. A plate 23 is mounted on the upper end of the switch shaft 1 and serves to retain'the spring 20 in place and to provide a thrust bearing for a crank plate 24L The crank plate 2 1 has two legs 25 and in Fig. 2, the crank-leg 25 moves the spring end 21 with it. while the other spring end 22 is held stationary by the leg 18 and thereby tensionin q' the spring 20 until upon the completion of approximately a quarter turn of the shaft 4 the end of the crank leg 26 depresses the arcuate stop arm 14 sufficiently to clear the instant stop lug 8 whereupon the spring 20 reacts on the lee; 18 to turn the switch shaft 1 until arrested by the stop arm 14L coming; the succeeding stop lug 8.

When the actuating shaft 1 is turned clockwise. crank leg 26 moves the sprinp' end 22 with it while the other spring end 21 is held stationary by the leg 17 and thereby again tensioningz the spring 20 until the end of crank leg 25 has depressed the arcuate stop arm 13 sufficiently to clear the instant lug; 8 whereupon the switch is moved under the recoil of thespring clockwise to its next position.

While we have shown and described the best embodiment of the invention known to usywe do not desire to be restricted thereto.

hat we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A double snap movement for rotary switches comprising" spaced stop lugs flexible stop arms connected to the movable member of the switch and adapted to engage opposite sides of the respective stop lugs, a

spring associated with said stop arms, and

a rotary actuator having spaced crank legs 5 engaging said spring and said sto arms and adapted to tension said spring an thereafter deflect one or other of said stop arms from the instant lug according to its direction of rotation.

2. A double snap movement for rotary switches comprising spaced stop lugs a plate connected to the movable member of the switch and provided with two flexible stop arms adapted to engage opposite sides of the 15 respective stop lugs5 spaced legs connected to said plate perpendicularly thereof, a spring having its ends bent radially and normally engaging said legs, and a rotary actuator having spaced legs disposed to en, gage the ends of said'spring and said Stop 20 arms and adapted upon being rotated in either direction to tension said coiled spring and thereafter deflect one of said stop arms out of holding relation with the instant stop lug. v r 25 In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 26th day of May 1925.

RICHARD BOELTER. ERNST BARTZ. V 

